| GPC Biotech and Agennix Announce Proposed Merger
Talactoferrin has recently entered Phase 3 clinical testing for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition to orally administered talactoferrin, other programs the new company will focus on include: topical talactoferrin in clinical development for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers; and RGB-286638 from GPC Biotech, a novel multi-targeted kinase inhibitor currently in Phase 1 testing for advanced solid tumors. Furthermore, GPC Biotech is currently talking with Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd., its partner in Japan for the oral platinum compound, satraplatin, regarding further development and registrational efforts for this program. The parties are committed to building the new company by advancing the current anti-cancer programs that GPC Biotech and Agennix bring, as well as by pursuing additional oncology opportunities to fully utilize the significant expertise and transatlantic operations of the combined entity.
Prostate cancer ride a success
The ride raises awareness and funds for prostate cancer. The participants, who met in Bracebridge, didn't mind driving to a different location, said Hutton. He sent out a big thank-you to Sydney's Pub and Bistro in Port Sydney for letting riders park and start the ride from their property. “We owe them, big time," said Hutton. The ride location was changed suddenly on Friday evening, said Hutton. Many riders like Kristy Carthew from Orillia simply came out to support the cause. Carthew's father had prostate cancer three years ago but is now healthy. The trail closures didn't play a role in her decision to support the cause, she said. “I wouldn't miss it," said Carthew. The trails were in great shape and the riders were able to cover about 75 miles on Crown land, not affected by closures, said Hutton.
Research links artificial light to prostate cancer
Might exposure to artificial light at night increase a man's risk for prostate cancer? An unusual international study indicates that it might, providing provocative new evidence that disrupting the body's natural rhythms may play a role in one of the most common malignancies to afflict men. The first-of-its-kind study, which involved analyzing satellite measurements of nighttime light emissions and cancer rates in 164 countries, found that nations that emit the most light at night tend to have the highest prostate cancer rates. While the findings do not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, they follow earlier studies that found men who work the graveyard shift appear to have a higher risk of prostate cancer. "This study is a very important new piece of evidence," said Richard G.
Yale Researchers Present Results of Phase II Phenoxodiol Clinical
In another related development concerning the potential for phenoxodiol as a therapeutic in prostate cancer, a paper was published today in the British Journal of Cancer reporting that, in addition to its potential as a single agent therapeutic, phenoxodiol is able to enhance the activity of cisplatin and carboplatin against prostate cancer cells in vitro(1). This study, conducted by Professor Paul de Souza and colleagues of the Department of Medical Oncology at St. George Hospital in Sydney, Australia concluded "that phenoxodiol has interesting properties that make combination therapy with cisplatin or carboplatin appealing." About phenoxodiol: Phenoxodiol is being developed by the US oncology company Marshall Edwards, Inc. (NASDAQ: MSHL) as a chemosensitizing agent in combination with platinum drugs for late stage, chemoresistant ovarian cancer and as a monotherapy for prostate and cervical cancers.
Still waiting for cancer care
��We�re confident that he will also move ahead with the rapid-access clinics for prostate cancer and lung cancer within the coming 18 months.�
Plans to expand radiation therapy services around the country are also continuing, but it is unclear how the economic recession will affect the rollout of these expensive and labour-intensive services. Within the next week or two, the Health Service Executive hopes to �go live� with the new hospital consultants� contract, which will involve hospital doctors in multidisciplinary teams and clinical audits.
At a press briefing on the implementation of recommendations of the Commission on Public Safety last Thursday, Harney predicted that, alongside the reconfiguration of hospital services, a new era of patient safety and accountability was beginning.
Golfer's words ring true about game's paradox
He retired in 1995 when he and his wife, Doris, moved to Palm Coast where he loved playing golf until prostate cancer took control of his life. While receiving chemotherapy treatments from Dr. Becki Melton, Stuart became aware of the patients in the clinic who relied on hospice to transport them each day because they either lived alone or someone was unable to care for them. He was very concerned about those patients and how they were to be cared for, and felt that it was a sad way to live out their final days. Stuart and Dr. Melton began talking about her dream of some day having a hospice facility in Palm Coast. After Stuart's death in 2001, his wife and friends joined with Dr. Melton to begin making this dream a reality. The Hospice House has now been opened for two years or so with eight bedrooms constantly full.
Therapeutic target for prostate cancer
Hormone-related therapy is the first line of treatment for more advanced prostate cancers as prostate cancer cells usually rely on male hormones to grow. Some prostate cancers become insensitive to hormone-related therapy after initially responding to it. Over the past 50 years, the dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids has increased substantially, relative to that of omega-3 fatty acids, in Western countries. We are what we eat - dietary omega-6 fatty acids end up in our cells where they are released by the enzyme cPLA2- and converted into inflammatory chemicals. Inflammatory chemicals can contribute to the development and progression of prostate cancer due to their roles in promoting cell and blood vessel growth. Dr Qihan Dong and his research group hypothesised that, since a reduction of omega-6 or an increase in omega-3 fatty acid intake might decrease prostate cancer development and progression, blocking cPLA2- activity could have a therapeutic effect in treating advanced prostate cancer.
14th Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run proves popular
I've been a regular participant in the Run ever since and I do it in the memory of my friends who had passed away from prostate cancer," Paul Richardson, a Canadian expatriate, said. Roland Grant, a consultant, decided to participate in a rather unconventional way. "I've been riding my unicycle to raise money for cancer in the UK for over 30 years. But even though I moved to Abu Dhabi five years ago, this is my first participation in the Terry Fox Run to my shame," he laughed. Farid Dabaghi, Chairman of the Terry Fox Run Committee read a touching email from Terry Fox's sister thanking everyone for their support. Do you know any other events that support unique causes? What are they? Have you paticipated in any such events? What would prevent you from participating? Your comments
I am very proud to know about the Terry Fox Run.
Cancer victim appalled at medical assistance system
Diagnosed with stage four brain cell cancer, Collins underwent surgery in July to remove a large tumor, six-inches long and two inches thick. His latest MRI shows nothing's changed since surgery. His prognosis remains the same: 16 to 22 months to live. In his early 40s, Collins can no longer work and has no health insurance. He had been receiving medical assistance, but says that stopped December 31, 2008, when he qualified for Social Security Disability. Now, he's told he has to wait two years before he'll be eligible for medical assistance. It's a long time to wait as medical bills mount, he says. Treatment involves oral chemotherapy, five days each month — at a cost of $4,500 per month. "I'm lucky. I contacted the company that makes the drug, and they put me on a program where they provide it for free.
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Identifies Novel Peptides to Broaden
While glioblastoma will be the initial target for ICT-121, CD133 is also overexpressed in colon cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma and melanoma, providing many potential cancer targets for this CSC vaccine in the future. About ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. IMUC is a Los Angeles-based clinical-stage company that is developing immune based therapies for the treatment of brain and other cancers. IMUC is currently evaluating a dendritic cell-based vaccine in a Phase I clinical trial for glioblastoma. The company's "off the shelf? therapeutic vaccine product candidate targeting cancer stem cells for multiple cancer indications is expected to enter clinical trials during the third quarter of 2009. IMUC is in pre-clinical development of a monoclonal antibody product candidate for the treatment of small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, and is also evaluating its platform technology for monoclonal antibody discovery using differential immunization for diagnosing and treating multiple types of cancer.
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